Curtis Jones

Curtis Leroy "Jack" Jones was born on February 11, 1921 to Claude W. and Sarah Opal Jones in Knob Noster, Missouri. Jack spent most of his 95 plus years in Barton County attending Anderson rural school until the 8th grade. In 1941 he married Alma Seay and began to farm on his own near Milford. They had one son, Richard, born in 1944. Jack loved travel, new experiences and "figuring things out." He was indeed a "Jack of all trades." Four summers they followed the wheat harvest from Texas to North Dakota with Aunt Alma cooking for the crew. He worked some as a dairy helper in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He also sheared sheep and could finish 72 in a day "without a nick." In 1956 he bought 60 acres on KK highway and began to work for Owens Service Station. Later he bought the Conoco Station on 160, He also raised rabbits commercially for Pel-Freez out of Arkansas. After selling the station in 1960, he worked for Lewis LP Gas for six years. From 1966 until his retirement he worked for Superior Supply in Joplin. They moved to Joplin during that period; then, back to Lamar in 1991. Jack loved to travel. He and Alma drove to Alaska to visit Richard's family several summers. Once Jack and Richard rode from here to Fairbanks on their motorcycles. They also enjoyed "snowbirding" in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas with many good friends. He enjoyed square dancing, bluegrass and gospel music, fishing, playing cards with anyone willing to try. Jack was a lifetime member of Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church serving several years as Sunday School Superintendent in his younger years. Jack was the second of eight children in his family and the only boy! Four sisters preceded him in death: Madeline Phipps, Alma Reaves, Mary Williams and Wanda Jones. His son Richard died in December 2014 and his wife Alma in March 2015. They were married 73 ½ years. Jack is survived by his daughter-in-law Shirley Jones of Fairbanks, Alaska; two Granddaughters Marcie Jones and Stacie Ryman; one grandson Austin Ryman. Also surviving are three sisters: Olive Pyatt and Reba Simmons of Lamar and Sarah White of Boerne, Texas; and 24 living nieces and nephews.